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http://interaffairs.ru
Author : L. Babynina
Head, Center for Political Integration Studies, Institute of Europe, Russian Academy of Sciences, Dean,
School of World Politics, the M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University, Candidate of Science (Political
Science)
IN JUNE 2016, Eurosceptics won the referendum on
the UK's membership in the European Union. In
March 2017, UK Prime Minister Theresa May notified
Donald Tusk, President of the European Council, that
Great Britain intended to leave the EU; this triggered
Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty. The British government
needed nine months to formulate its vision of the fu-
ture relations with the EU and outline the parameters
of withdrawal. British proposals, however, multiplied
questions rather than provided answers. The EU leaders, on the other hand, have their own ideas
about the conditions, on which the UK will be allowed to quit. The sides' initial positions differ
to the extent that the road toward a compromise looks difficult, not to say tortuous.
The EU leaders deemed it necessary to point out that there will be no exemptions from the rules
of functioning of the EU Single Market; this means that the UK would not be allowed to limit
the freedom of movement of workforce while enjoying the freedom of movement of goods,
services and capitals.
European Council will monitor progress closely and determine when sufficient progress has
been achieved to allow negotiations to proceed to the next phase" even before the first document
was signed. At the second stage of the talks, Brussels will treat Britain as a third country, the
way it treats Russia or the United States.
AS A RESULT of the snap election, the Tories lost the majority in the parliament, which forced
Theresa May knock together a minority cabinet. In this context, the EU leaders repeatedly stated
that the doors of the European Union remained open for Great Britain. Those who expected
that the British government would somehow soften its positions at the talks were wrong, while
the UK in fact accepted some of the Brussels offers.
It seems that in the course of negotiations, the British government will gradually retreat from
its positions: it badly needs a free trade agreement and the maximum preferences in other areas
of cooperation, while the Conservatives' positions in the parliament, where all other parties
prefer a more or less "soft" Brexit, are fairly shaky. The talks will not be easy; the sides will ex-
change harsh remarks. It seems that "no deal is better than a bad deal" has lost its topicality: the
sides will have to arrive at a compromise since they need cooperation in trade, economy and se-
curity.
Brexit: At the Beginning of Uneasy Talks